Footprints In The Sand

Good Morning,
 
Most of us have read the framed poem, FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND.  But maybe you're not familiar with the author, Mary Stevenson.  Her mother died when Mary was only six years old, and her father was left alone to raise the eight children in his family.  We can't imagine, unless we have experienced something similar to that ourselves, how tough that would be on a single father and his kids.  But to add to the difficult situation they found themselves in, this happened during the Great Depression.  You see, Mary was born in 1922, and was 14 years old in 1936, when she wrote this poem.  This was in the very heart of the Great Depression.  She must have known what it was like for the Lord to walk by her side and strengthen her, and help her.  And also to experience times when she came to the end of all her strength, and He carried her.  He has a promise for all of us, regardless of what we go through, and it is found in Isaiah 41:10.

Here, God is saying I have three ways of helping you. First, He says, I will strengthen thee. In other words, He is saying, "I will make you a little stronger yourself." Second, He adds, I will help thee. By that we understand Him to say, "I will add my strength to your strength, but you shall lead and I will help you." Third, He says, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness-or, "I will lift you up bodily and carry you altogether. It will be neither your strength nor My help, but My complete upholding.
When we come to the end of our strength, we come to the beginning of His. In Him the weakest are the strongest, and the most helpless the most helped. He giveth power to the faint, but to them that have no might at all He increaseth strength. His word forever is, My grace is sufficient for thee.
 
In the New Testament, Paul gives us the following verse, that at first glance seems to be a contradiction in common sense.  But on a deeper look into this, we see a very practical truth.  "Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. . . . For when I am weak, then am I strong " 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
 
At the beginning of this new week, is there something you are facing, that calls for Christ's strength and help to see you through?  Or maybe you are already at the point where all strength to fight through the battle is gone, and you need Him to lift you up and carry you through it all.  Put your total trust in Jesus, for He is able to deliver on His promise.  Be blessed and remember that you are loved!!!

Henry